Every American citizen is now required to help make insurance corporations richer. Enjoy!

[Dragonfli]

258. A Health savings account won't work as I have less coming in than going out

You can't save negative cash.

I know first hand another vantage point on this as well, and it is because of this vantage point I know how many problems and lack of care will result from the mandate.

I was working as a drafter/designer in a small mill shop in Orchard Park NY.
I was making $17.50/hr, my wife worked part time in her shop as an artist

With the truck payments and basic stuff we were budget neutral (this was in 2003)
Actually some months we fell behind and were able to make it up in some other months.

Even tho I knew that buying the H.I. plan at work would require that we would have to put $200-$300 a month on our credit to make budget, I bought into the plan. It was a very good one (relatively I suppose) at the time, better than what is being considered "bronze" these days. I had to do this because I was worried about my wife's health as she had a lump she didn't want to see a doctor about because of the expense, I joined the health plan against her will and made her get it checked out.

She was really pissed off at me and said things like "we can't live off credit cards", she always kept the balance down.
She had cancer actually and was now scared rather than angry.


The insurance company sucked us dry before killing her (in my opinion) as they delayed a surgery that she was off chemo in preparation for. The delayed it so long, and in such a way that the doctors kept thinking approval was immanent so she was NOT PUT BACK ON CHEMO as a result of this the tumor had not only doubled in size, but had metastasized and was no longer fully operable.

In other words, they got what they could and stapled her together, then two and a half years of chemo and radiation (they actually burned the shit out of her with that) and all that was left was palliative, she died in 2006

A tumor that was shrunk with chemo prior to surgery with several painful infusions, that was expected to be "successfully operable". A surgery that should have saved her life was fucked up by an insurance employee somewhere that felt an additional surgeon that her surgeon said was needed for the procedure (something about the possibility of needing a skin graft) was too costly so the started playing tag with the medical profession over what should be done for like FOUR FUCKING MONTHS.

It still cost us (and now me) everything, including everything that could be sold and my credit rating.
The sucked us dry in increments, using "Co-Pays" to try to wear us down.

Almost every month I had to borrow or sell something for co-pays, until there was nothing more, then I ruined my mom's credit before it was done.

The only reason I could afford the funeral was because she was very well liked by very many people that gave generously in cards at the wake. I had to drop my insurance even tho I was diagnosed because not enough money was left after garnishments for me to AFFORD it anymore.

But

Thank Gawd she was well insured eh?
And

Thank GAWWWWD it passed!! Now others can enjoy the INSURANCE that ya'll think is so lovely.
I call them murderers, you call them part of a great victory.

Enjoy the fruits of your efforts as my wife has
Watch SICKO sometime if you get the chance if you don't understand what we have "won" here.

(how many times must I tell this story?????? i rather dislike the memories of it all, they piss me off too much to post)